By Town Crier Staff

Rose begins her day after breakfast by leaving “home” and hiking to nearby Sacred Heart Church in downtown San Jose. There she uses a phone and a computer to send out her resumes on e-mail. Rose, who once managed a law office, is actively seeking a job as a paralegal.

What is different from most of the valley residents is that Rose’s “home” is the homeless shelter sponsored by the First Christian Church on Fourth Street in downtown San Jose. Why is she homeless? Like many others in the shelter, she simply ran out of money. But with lots of freshly washed curly hair and a happy smile, Rose is optimistic about getting back to work.

Wendy, wheelchair bound and blind, had come to the shelter the night before for the first time and said, “It’s a lot nicer here than in the park where I’ve been staying.” A friend, Angel, who has diabetes and is partially disabled, had invited Wendy to come to the shelter for food and safety.

Robert and Laurie, a couple in their 50s, roll out their sleeping bags on the floor each night. While Robert has a part-time job only a few months a year, Laurie is on crutches with an undiagnosed problem and is unable to work.

The Community Homeless Alliance Ministry has provided shelter and meals for those who need assistance for most of the last decade. The Center opens at 5 p.m. each day, serves dinner at 6 p.m., and has lights out at 10 p.m.

About 50 people can spend the night–on floor mats spread throughout the room. All overnight residents get a free breakfast before the center closes at 9 a.m. Everyone must leave for the rest of the day.

Director Sandy Perry earns a moderate salary to manage the center with a cadre of trained volunteers. He tries to have a program every evening. Subjects include anger management, health awareness, optional Bible study and a video on Friday evenings.

“We try to take in families first and single women,” said Perry, who has been at the Shelter for 10 years. “We won’t take single men or people who won’t shower or those who have serious mental problems,” he adds.

Perry demonstrates love and patience, but does not allow problems to develop. If a visitor becomes unruly or rowdy, they are immediately asked to leave.

A portion of the food served from the church kitchen each day is donated. But some needs to be purchased from contributions.

Last year, the Town Crier Holiday Fund provided $10,000 for CHAM. “This is our largest contribution and we are careful to make it last,” Perry said. “God bless you all.”

The Town Crier Holiday Fund 2002 is now underway and funds are already being collected for distribution to nine other agencies like CHAM. Thousands of dollars in matching funds have already been pledged meaning that all donations are doubled.

Checks payable to the Town Crier Holiday Fund can be mailed or delivered to 138 Main St., Los Altos CA 94022. Credit card donors can call Avinell Johnson at 948-9000. All donations of $25 or more will be listed in the newspaper as a way of saying thanks.